by Albino Heretic

5. Sample Mindmap Developed By Stage 5 Students

albino_heretic — 2013-11-05 11:26:09 UTC

Students were asked to develop a mindmap of their understanding of plate tectonics, using the template provided as a guide.

Students needed to develop questions around a central theme, and then answer their own questions. More marks were awarded for higher order 'how' or 'why' questions over 'what' or 'where' questions.
https://bubbl.us/?h=18c9bd/352d06/16VGqWcjTEnxE

2. Why Mindmaps

albino_heretic — 2013-11-05 11:29:09 UTC

Mindtools, including mind mapping tools, are technologies which require students to cognitively engage with a task

They provide students with the opportunity to visually display their understanding of a topic. By sharing these mindmaps, you create a collaborative learning environment which allows other students recognise the variety of ways an idea may be conceptualised

Teachers can clearly see the extent of student understanding and the relationships formed between different concepts, suggesting mindmaps have a role as an assessment tool.

1. MINDTOOLS IN STAGE 5 SCIENCE

albino_heretic — 2013-11-05 11:33:13 UTC

Sunny and I chose to investigate the use of mindtools, including bubbl.us and LAMS mindmap in Stage 5 Science

3. What are the pro's of Bubbl.Us and LAMS?

albino_heretic — 2013-11-05 11:38:57 UTC

Easy To Use

- Students unfamiliar with the technology able to pick it up quickly

The Use of Colour

- Excellent potential for students with special needs (eg dyslexia, ASD) as they may be visual learners

Ability to Reorganise the mindmap

- The mindmap may be altered as student understanding develops

- New links may be added as sophistication develops

Ability to Share Mindmaps

- Create a collaborative learning environment

6. LAMS as a Tool for Progressive Knowledge Construction

albino_heretic — 2013-11-06 02:21:04 UTC

LAMS is an ideal tool to allow students to progressively develop their understanding. Why? As LAMS mindmap is part of a Learning Management System, it is possible to scaffold student learning more so than with other mindmapping tools.

With LAMS you can embed a mindmap activity within an online lesson sequence. CLICK below to navigate to the LAMS based Aussie animal mind map sequence.

http://padlet.com/wall/v1ltsmjyvv

4. Bubbl.us as an assessment tool

albino_heretic — 2013-11-06 02:34:26 UTC

Bubbl.us has a number of features which make it valuable as an assessment tool

1. It is possible to create multiple mindmaps on one page.

This allows the teacher to develop a template mindmap which the students may use as a guide when developing their own mindmaps.

2. Links may be drawn between all areas of the mindmap

If the purpose is to identify student understanding, students need freedom

3. Easy to rearrange the mindmap

If students change how they want to present information, they needn't start afresh. They can drag sections to rearrange their mindmap.

4. Changing the colour of 'bubbles' is simple an allows students to differentiate between different sections of the task